Chargesheets have been filed for 38 cases out of 53 cases filed against the rioters of Northeast Delhi riots in February 2020, and arguments for the rest 17 have started in the court.
After talking to the families of 51 victims of the riots it was found that 44 cases got compensated by the state government whereas, 12 families shifted their residence due to the riots.
The communal violence has scorched the Northeast Delhi between 24 February to 26 February, which left around 500 people injured and huge vandalism. The riots also resulted into families living in camps for many months.
“A total of 755 cases were registered, of which 400 have been solved. So far 1,753 people have been arrested — 933 Muslims and 820 Hindus,” told a senior police officer.
Three special investigation teams of Crime Branch are handling total 62 cases of which 53 are murder cases and 46 have been solved, said an official from the branch. “The three SITs have arrested 390 people — 178 Hindus and 212 Muslims. The Special Cell, probing the larger conspiracy case, has arrested 21 people — 19 Muslims and two Hindus,” official added.
“Chargesheets have been filed in 38 murder cases and arguments on charge have commenced in 17,” said a CP of special Crime Branch Praveen Ranjan.
According to the survey most of the families affected in the riots lost their primary earner. Although the government provided Rs 10 lakh for the death of an adult and Rs 5 lakh for the death of a minor, but the families said that this could barely rebuild their homes and secure the future of their children. On the other hand many wives who lost their husbands in the riots somehow managed to get a job and those who could not earn became depended on their in-laws for their livelihoods.
As per the reports, the Delhi government has given a total compensation of Rs 26.09 crore since the riots which includes families of victims, residential and government and commercial properties and for harms to animals and vehicles.
Apart from those who have moved, there are families who despite having major loss in the riots have not shifted to any other place because they lack resources and finances to do so.
“Out of 1,753 people arrested, 1,204 are in judicial custody and 544 have been released on bail. 1,553 accused have been chargesheeted and 200 are yet to be chargesheeted. Out of 342 chargesheeted cases, 250 have been taken cognizance of by trial courts and in some cases, arguments on charge have begun,” said an official from the Crime Branch.
The police also said that they have solved the cases by only relying on the “credible, material, scientific evidence and CCTV footage”. A police official also said, “Most of the accused who have been arrested on the charge of murder were not directly involved in murder cases but were part of the mob where the murder took place”.
